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The Driving While License Suspended (D.W.L.S.) charge is a criminal traffic offense in Florida. If it is your third offense, it is now a felony in Florida. A driver charged with DWLS as a felony is facing up to five years in Prison and a five year driver's license revocation on top of that!
If it is your first offense, you face either a civil or a criminal misdemeanor. The civil charge results when you unknowingly drove with a suspended license. However, the penalty accumulates against you. If you knowingly drove while your license was suspended and are found guilty you are facing up to sixty (60) days in jail and a $500.00 fine.
A second offense carries up to a year in jail and again a $500.00 fine. The third offense gets you a five year revocation of your license and may be a felony. You will be labeled an "habitual traffic offender" if you are convicted of three "driving while license suspended" cases, regardless of whether you were jailed or not.
Verify the staus of your license.
Your driving record report will advise you if your driver's license is currently valid or whether it's suspended or revoked. The record will also show points against your license and, in some cases, any accidents you have had. You can order your driving record in one of three ways: online, in person, or through the mail.
- Order Driving Record Online
You may order a driving record online through our authorized third-party vendor.
- Order Driving Record In Person
- Complete and notarize a Request for Personal Information if you want your personal information shown on the record.
- Be ready to pay the $2.10 or $3.10 fee, depending on whether you want a certified copy and how far back you want to go.
- Visit your County Clerk’s office. You may want to call in advance to see which forms of payment are accepted.
- Order Driving Record By Mail
- Write a letter asking for your record or the record of the individual you’re researching. Remember to include your full name, your date of birth, social security number, and Florida driver’s license.
- Fill out and notarize the Request for Personal Information if you are ordering your own record and want your personal information visible on it.
- Include a check or money order to cover the fee. It’s $2.10 for a one year history, or $3.10 to go back completely or for a certified copy.
- If you can wait two weeks for the receipt, mail the application and fee to:
- Tallahassee, FL 32314-5775
- To request that your record is sent by next-day delivery, send to:
- 2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 90
- Tallahassee, FL 32399-0575
A Suspension Now Crosses State Borders
If you move and have a suspended license in your old state, you won’t be able to get a new driver’s license in your new state, either. This is because of the National Driver Register (NDR) and the Driver License Compact, both of which tell other states if you’re suspended anywhere in the U.S.
Penalties for Driving on a Suspended License
If you drive on a suspended license, your penalties depend on the circumstances. You could be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. The DHSMV provides a special bulletin you can download that highlights the penalties for driving on a suspended license.
Contact an Attorney
If you're being charged with a felony for driving on a suspended license, you should get advice from an attorney. An experienced attorney may help lower your costs and penalties. Use our Attorney Finder to locate a law firm near you.
Obtain a Restricted License
Some people may have the option of getting a hardship license so they can drive to and from work. Whether you qualify depends on factors like your offense and how many points you have. To find your office, look under your county’s listing and call for assistance.If you need more help with obtaining a hardship license, seek legal advice.
Try to Reinstate Your License
When you're allowed to reinstate your license - and the requirements you must fulfill to do so - depends on the reason for your license suspension. Some of these reasons may cause your insurance payments to rise.
Reinstate for Child Support Delinquency
To get your license back, you must become current on your support and get affidavit Form # DHSMV 73986 from the clerk of the court, child support agency, or depository.
Bring this and a $47.50 fee in to your County Clerk's office.
If you received the affidavit before your license got suspended, the fee will be waived. Just show them the date on the affidavit to prove it.
Habitual Traffic Offender
Your license is suspended for five years. After one year, you can ask for a hardship license from the Administrative Reviews office.
You must attend driver improvement. If you got a DUI, you’ll need to go to DUI school.
After five years, you’ll have to request a new license from the Administrative Reviews office (the same place that gave you your hardship license).
Violation Resulting in Death or Personal Injury (Not a DUI)
Your license will be suspended for a year.
You’ll have to take an Advanced Driver Improvement Course and an exam.
You’ll have to pay $35 to reinstate your license, plus license fees.
Failure to Comply with Traffic Summons or Pay a Fine
You’ll have to pay your fines at a traffic court or online, if your county allows.
Bring your payment proof to a DMV office and pay a $47.50 fee.
Giving False Information on a License Application
If you give wrong information on your driver’s license application, your license will be suspended. You may request a hearing, but if you’re found to have committed fraud, you’ll have to pay fines and wait for a period before obtaining a new license.
Getting Too Many Points
Getting citations resulting in too many point violations on your record.
12 points in 12 months: 30 day suspension.
18 points in 18 months: Three month suspension.
24 points in 36 months: 12 month suspension.
Refusing to Comply with State Laws
Your license is used as a compliance tool in law enforcement. If you don’t stop for a school bus, are using tobacco if you’re under age 18, or don’t pay your child support, you can have your license suspended.
Refusing a Blood Alcohol Test
Under state law, you must take a blood alcohol test when you’re suspected of driving under the influence. Your license could be suspended even if you’re innocent, if you fail to comply.
Lacking Florida Insurance
You must have current and adequate Florida insurance with $10,000 minimum personal injury protection and $10,000 minimum property coverage to drive. If you don’t, you face a suspended license. Remember, you must get your insurance from a company licensed in the state.
Ignoring Your Traffic Tickets
If you’ve gotten traffic tickets that you don’t pay, or if you don’t appear in court when you’re supposed to, your driver’s license can get suspended. Your signing the ticket when you receive it means that you're acknowledging you will take care of the ticket.
Getting a DUI
A DUI results in an automatic suspension. How long the suspension lasts depends on how many times it’s happened. Suspension times vary from 180 days to permanent revocation.
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